"Recreating the magic of a run to Game 7 of the World Series is never easy, but this is the task Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins faces this offseason. How do you improve a roster that came within two outs of winning it all? How do you build a team incrementally better to secure those final precious outs of the season? With plenty of players coming and going this offseason, it's an uphill battle for the Blue Jays to defend their honour as American League Champions, but they're hoping they can pull a 2014 Kansas City Royals and run it right back to the World Series after also losing in Game 7."
"That's why the Blue Jays may turn to the free agent pool to shore up their middle infield this offseason. One player on the market who checks several boxes is free agent infielder Jorge Polanco. After injury-shortened campaigns in 2023 and 2024, the Seattle Mariners brought back Polanco for the 2025 season on a modest one-year, $7.75 million deal plus a $6 million option (which he recently declined). The 32-year-old came back in full force this past year, slashing .265/.326/.495, hitting 26 home runs and posting a 132 wRC+."
The Blue Jays face the challenge of improving a roster that lost in Game 7 and need incremental upgrades to secure late-season outs. Middle infield stability remains a priority, with shortstop and second base in flux for several seasons. Jorge Polanco emerges as a target from free agency who offers power and durability after a strong 2025. Polanco played 138 games, slashed .265/.326/.495, hit 26 home runs, and posted a 132 wRC+. He improved hard-hit metrics, raised slugging by 139 points, and reduced strikeouts while sacrificing walk rate for power.
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